US kills Islamic State militants in Libya

Several Islamic State militants have been killed in US airstrikes in Libya, the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) says.

US forces conducted two precision airstrikes against militants on Tuesday in an area approximately 160km southeast of the coastal city of Sirte, the former stronghold of the Islamic State extremist militia in Libya.

AFRICOM did not detail the exact number of deaths.

On Friday, a US airstrike killed 17 Islamic State militants and destroyed three vehicles at a desert camp in the same area.

Libya has descended into chaos since dictator Muammar Gaddafi was toppled in a 2011 armed revolt.

The country is split up between three rival governments: two in Tripoli and one in the eastern city of Tobruk. Each is backed by rival militias.

Islamic State took advantage of the anarchy to expand in the oil-rich country.